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Ruby Payne defines poverty as "the extent to which an individual does without resources." Those resources are more than financial resources. They include emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, relationships/role models, and knowledge of hidden roles. ( Payne, 16)

However there are two classifications of poverty, generational and situational. Generational poverty covers those who have been in poverty for two or more generations whereas those in situational poverty are in poverty for a shorter time and usually due to unforeseen circumstances.

The government is responsible for deciding what the income level for poverty is. Below is the 2003 poverty guidelines as decided by the National Census.

2003 HHS Poverty Guidelines

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Size of Family Unit	48 Contiguous States and D.C.	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$ 8,980	$11,210	$10,330
2	12,120	15,140	13,940
3	15,260	19,070	17,550
4	18,400	23,000	21,160
5	21,540	26,930	24,770
6	24,680	30,860	28,380
7	27,820	34,790	31,990
8	30,960	38,720	35,600
For each additional person, add	3,140	3,930	3,610

SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 68, No. 26, February 7, 2003, pp. 6456-6458.

Click here to go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

for more information about government guidelines for poverty

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/03poverty.htm

As stated before there are around 15 million children living below these standards in the Unites States alone. In fact, America is the leading civilized society when it comes to children in poverty and the next nation's statistics are fifty percent lower than our own.

Here are some other statistics that you might find interesting.

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